NYC Stop & Shop hosts cigarette buyback to encourage customers to quit smoking
STATEN ISLAND (PIX11) — A Staten Island Stop & Shop teamed up with the American Cancer Society on Wednesday to host a cigarette buyback event to encourage customers to quit smoking.
The buyback came after the grocery store announced it would end all sales of tobacco products in its stores by Saturday.
"We are pleased to partner with Stop & Shop as they commit to ending the sales of all tobacco products in their stores," said Dr. Karen E. Knudsen, CEO of the American Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. "This is a step in the right direction toward ending Big Tobacco's influence on kids, and we know even more can be done to reduce the toll of tobacco in our communities. From state and local governments to schools and businesses, we can all play a part in protecting public health. We urge state lawmakers to prioritize tobacco control program funding so that those inspired to quit by this effort have the resources they need to help them succeed."
The borough of Staten Island has the smallest population of New Yorkers and, according to the Centers for Disease Control, has the most smokers, at 22 percent.
Wednesday's buyback offers the first 100 customers who bring in an unopened pack or carton of cigarettes a Stop & Shop gift card and a bag filled with healthy snacks, mints, and materials to help them quit smoking.
A $10 coupon for a nicotine replacement gum product was also offered.
Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.